Animal trap



July 20, 1954 P. R. HAMAKER ANIMAL TRAP 'Filed July 31, 1952 Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT FFICE ANIMAL TRAP Paul R. Hamaker, Portland, Oreg.

Application lluly 31, 1952A, Serial No. 301,829

This invention relates to improvement in animal traps and is particularly adapted for the trapping or moles and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to prorvide a tubular body that can be located within the runway of the animal, the said tubular body having specially constructed claws mounted therein adapted to arrest the movement of the animal on its way through the tubular body o the trap.

Another outstanding feature of my new and improved animal trap is its simplicity of construction, making it an easy matter to set the trap without danger to the operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a trap that is light of weight and that can be carried easily by the trapper on his trap line, allowing him to carry a great number of traps.

My new and improved animal trap can be used as a tra-p iol' moles or for large animals,

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specication and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of my new and improved trap located within a mole runway, showing one animal engaging bar in latched operating position and another in unlatched position trapping an animal.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the tra-p, 'taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the trapping claw removed from the trap.

Figure e is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View, taken on line l-ll in Figure 1.

Figure illustrates my new and improved animal trap within a runway and indicating that an animal has been trapped.

Referring more specilically to the drawings:

lvly new and improved animal trap consists of a relatively thin tube i, adapted to correspond to the size of the animal being trapped. Located on either end of the tube are bars 2 and 3. Each bar is bent one end to form a return bend 5 and at the other end each bar is bent slightly and serrated to form claws t. Openings 'l are formed within each end of the tube i and have protecting hoods t, the hoods being open at one end to form means for access to the bars in setting the trap.

The bars 2 and 3 are mounted on the pivot pins 9 within the hoods 8, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. The return bends form slots through which the pins` 9 pass, thus permitting a sliding movement of the bars. Referring to Figure 1 particularly, the bar 2 is illustrated in set or 4 Claims. (Si. 43--61) cocked position. The spring l2 exerts a downward pressure on the bar by its oontacu at the point i3, the spring being fixedly secured to the by any suitable means, as welding at irl. A fiat spring i9 is xedly secured at Ell to the or oi tube l extends either way beyond this t, its ends 2i registerable with the shoulder E t of the opening l on either end of the tube, as best illustrated in Figure l.

7When the trap is set, the bar is directed to the position shown at the left end portion of Figure 1, that is to the bar is slid toward-s the shoulder it and ove' the end 2i of the spring it. The end of the return bend 5 forms a projecticn i5 which engages the shoulder iii the El of the spring te, holding the bar :l in the position shown at the leit of the drawing.

Aing to the right portion of Figure l, an animal is shown trapped or prevented from forward by the claws t of the bar 3, enng the animais back at il. The projection the return bend of the unlatched ..-o been released from end oi shoulder iii and the spring i9, the free end of the spring l flips up and thus disturbs the surrounding earth which indicates that an animal has been trapped. Openings or holes it are punched or formed through the tube l, the object of which is to afford traction for the animal Within the tube and close contact with the soil under the tube.

I will now describe the operation of my new and improved animal trap. 'vl/'hen the animal entered the tube l, Figure 1, he passed underneath the claws t of the bar 2 without tripping the same, but on making further progress through the tube the animal engaged the teeth t of the bar il, sliding the same, and forcing the projection l5 of the return bend 5 oir the end 2l of the spring i9 and the shoulder i6, allowing the bar to take the position shown, thus preventing further forward movement of the animal.

In the event the animal attempts to back up in the tube he will engage the claws E of the bar 2 tripping the saine, thereby completely trapping himself within the tube i. When the end 2i of the spring It was released from the projection I 5 of the bar 3, it permitted the said spring i9 to move up through the soil above the runway indicating that the trap has been sprung as noted above.

in order to release the animal from the trap, the pivot pin il can be removed allowing the bars 2 and 3 to be released therefrom, after which the animal can be removed from the tube.

In the setting of the trap the bars are replaced and the operator then reaches in with his ngers from lthe end of the tube, raising the bar to the position shown at the left hand of Figure 1, forcing the projection I5 up over the end 2l of the spring I9, which is being held down against the shoulderl IS by the operators opposite hand. The spring l2 will then force the bar towards the center of the tube causing the projection l to remain on the end of the spring and the shoulder i5, until the animal engages the claws 6, forcing the projection ofi the said spring and shoulder.

What I claim is:

1. An animal trap comprising a tube having an opening in its wall, a pivot pin extending across the opening, a bar slidably mounted on the pin and tiltable in the tube, the free end of the bar having claws, the opposite end of the bar having a lug projecting in the direction of and spaced from body portion of said bar, the wall adjacent the opening forming a shoulder adapted to support the projecting lug to retain the bar in a set position, and spring between the wall of the tube and the bar, whereby when an animal passing through the tube contacts the free end of the bar the latter is slid on the pivot and disengages the projection irom the shoulder whereby the spring tilts the bar on its pivot and its claws engage the animal.

2. An animal trap comprising a tube having a hood, a pivot extending across and mounted in the hood, a bar having a U-shaped bend at one end providing a slot adapted to receive the pivot and pivotally and slidably mount the bar on the pivot, said bar extending within the tube and having claws at the end opposite the bent end, said tube having a shoulder adjacent said hood, the free leg of the U-shaped bend being adapted to engage said shoulder when the bar is swung and slid on the pivot to set position, and a spring interposed between the tube and the bar and biasing the claw end oi said bar to trapping position, whereby when an animal passes through the tube and engages the claw end of the bar the latter will be slid on the pivot and disengage the free leg of the bent end from the shoulder and the spring Will thrust the claw end of the bar down in the tube and engage and trap the animal.

3. An animal trap as dened in claim 2, wherein said hood has an opening on one side and said shoulder is adjacent said opening, and a ilat spring secured on the outer surface of the tube with its free end adapted to extend over the shoulder and on which the free leg of the U-shaped bend is supported when the bar is in set position, the free end of the flat spring being tensioned upwardly to serve as a signal when an animal has released the bar.

4. An animal trap comprising a tube formed at opposite ends with hoods and shoulders respectively adjacent said hoods, pivots extending across said hoods, bars having U-shaped bends at one end providing slots adapted to receive said pivots and pivotally and slidably mounting the bars on the pivots, said bars extending toward each other within the tube and having claws at the ends opposite the bent ends thereof, the free legs of the U-shaped bends being adapted to engage said shoulders when the bars are swung and slid on said pivots to set position, and springs interposed between the tube and said bars and biasing the claw ends of said bars to trapping position, whereby an animal passing through the tube will engage the claw end of one of the bars and slide the bar extending opposite the animals direction of travel and disengage the free leg of the bent end of said bar from the shoulder and the spring will thrust the claw end of said bar toward and trap the animal.

Tiefer-ences Cited in the le or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 253,907 Andre Feb. 21, 1882 1,372,927 Barber Mar. 29, 1921 1,996,872 Long Apr. 9, 1935 

